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Haoyu Wang

Thesis Defence for the degree of Master of Science in Earth Sciences

Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM - 3:300 PM
Location: WAC 2020, Library Thesis Defence Room, 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿ÚBurnaby

Zoom link: 

Title: "Landslide Susceptibility and Ecohazard Risk Assessment in the Fraser Canyon Corridor, British Columbia"

Examining Committee

Senior Supervisor: Dr. Sergio Sepulveda, Professor (Department of Earth Sciences)
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Jeremy Venditti, Professor (School of Environmental Science)
Committee Member: Dr. Brent Ward, Professor (Department of Earth Sciences)
Examiner: Dr. Leonard Sklar, Adjunct Professor (School of Environmental Science)
Chair: Dr. Glyn Williams-Jones, Professor (Department of Earth Sciences)

Abstract: Landslides in the Fraser Canyon corridor, British Columbia, can disrupt river connectivity and Pacific salmon migration. This thesis develops a multi-scale framework integrating LiDAR-derived terrain analysis, Random Forest landslide susceptibility modelling, salmon connectivity-based ecological weighting, and a preliminary White Canyon slope stability case study. A 274-landslide inventory and ten geological, geomorphological, hydrological, and environmental conditioning factors were used to model corridor-scale susceptibility. The Random Forest model achieved strong predictive performance (AUC ≈ 0.87), with lithology, rock strength, slope, and river proximity as key controls. Susceptibility outputs were combined with ecological consequence weights to calculate an Ecohazard Risk Index (ERI), showing that the highest ecological risk occurs where landslide-prone terrain overlaps with important salmon connectivity corridors. White Canyon analysis further indicated sensitivity to structural controls and upper-slope weakening. The framework provides a relative screening tool for prioritizing landslide-related ecohazard assessment in the Fraser Canyon.

For more information on this thesis defence, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant in the Department of Earth Sciences at easc_grad_secretary@sfu.ca.

Erin Fairley

Thesis Defence for the degree of Master of Science in Geography

Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: WAC 2020, Library Thesis Defence Room, 51ÁÔÆæÈë¿ÚBurnaby

Title: "The influence of width variability and laternal roughness on sediment storage and reach connectivity in bedrock river canyons"

Examining Committee

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Jeremy Venditti, Professor (School of Environmental Science)
Co-Supervisor: Dr. Leonard Sklar, Adjunct Professor (School of Environmental Science)
Committee Member: Dr. Jesse Hahm, Assistant Professor (Department of Geography)
Examiner: Dr. Shawn Chartrand, Assistant Professor (School of Environmental Science)

Abstract: Width variability, roughness, and local hydraulics control sediment transport and storage in bedrock canyons, and therefore the slope required to transport the sediment supply. Current bedrock river profile models do not account for the effects of width variability and lateral roughness on transport dynamics. I conducted three flume experiments using a bedrock canyon bounded by wider reaches, with geometry based on field data from the Fraser River. Using a constant sediment supply, experiments were run to equilibrium under three combinations of laternal roughness and discharge. I found that canyon wall stress dominated over bed stress and required steeper slopes as lateral roughness increased. Increased discharge enganced this roughness effect, reducing width to depth ratios and forcing additional steepening. Sediment dynamics were consistently coupled between the upstream and canyon reaches. Results suggest that bedrock river profile models can better predict slope adjustment if width variability and lateral roughness are explicitly represented.

For more information on this thesis defence, please contact the Graduate Program Assistant in the Department of Geography at geoggrad@sfu.ca.